Determining an action associated with an apparatus using a combined bar code image

1. A method of determining an action associated with an apparatus, the apparatus having a disposable component, the method comprising: obtaining, by means of a camera, data representing a visual code and a visual symbol; comparing, by means of a processor, the visual code represented by said data with a reference code, the reference code indicating an identity of a disposable component of the apparatus, and comparing, by means of said processor, the visual symbol represented by said data with a reference symbol, to obtain comparison results; and determining the action in response to the comparison results, wherein the action to be taken in response to the comparison of the visual code with the reference code and the visual symbol with the reference symbol results in one of four unique actions as determined by the comparison results.

2. A method of determining the action according to claim 1 , wherein the visual code is selected from the group of one-dimensional barcode, two-dimensional code, hologram.

3. A method of determining the action according to claim 1 , wherein the reference symbol comprises any one of characters, words, pattern, image or the combination thereof.

4. A method of determining the action according to claim 1 , wherein the reference symbol comprises any one of trademark or copyright item.

5. A method of determining the action according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises any one of the following: an air purifier; a coffee machine; a respiratory drug delivery apparatus; a printer; a water purifier; a vacuum cleaner; a shaver; an electric toothbrush; an oxygen concentrator.

6. A method of determining the action according to claim 1 , wherein the disposable component of the apparatus comprises any one of the following: filter of an air purifier; coffee powder pad of a coffee machine; drug to be delivered by a respiratory drug delivery apparatus; cartridge of a printer; filter of a water purifier; bag of a vacuum cleaner; shaving head of a shaver; toothbrush head of an electric toothbrush; filter of an oxygen concentrator.

7. A method of determining the action according to claim 1 , wherein the action comprises at least one of the following: controlling the apparatus; providing services associated with the apparatus.

8. A method of determining the action according to claim 7 , wherein when the visual code matches with the reference code and the visual symbol matches with the reference symbol, the controlling the apparatus comprises at least one of: switching on the apparatus; adjusting operation parameters according to a property of the disposable component; and the providing services comprises providing service related to the disposable component.

9. A method of determining the action according to claim 7 , wherein when the visual code matches with the reference code and the visual symbol does not match with the reference symbol, the controlling the apparatus comprises at least one of: preventing the apparatus from being switched on; preventing the component of the apparatus from being installed to the apparatus; and the providing services comprises providing a subset of services which does not comprise any service related to the disposable component.

10. A method of determining the action according to claim 7 , wherein when the visual code does not match with the reference code, the controlling the apparatus comprises at least one of: preventing the apparatus from being switched on; preventing the component of the apparatus from being installed to the apparatus; and the providing services comprises at least one of: indicating a correct identity of the disposable component; providing a subset of services which does not comprise service related to the disposable component.

11. A method of determining an action according to claim 8 , wherein the service related to the disposable component comprises at least one of the following: registering the disposable component on an application; monitoring the working status of the disposable component; indicating working status of the disposable component; indicating property of the disposable component; indicating maintenance requirement of the disposable component.

12. A computer readable medium carrying computer readable code for controlling a processor to carry out any one of the method of claim 1 .

13. An apparatus having a disposable component comprising: a camera for obtaining data representing a visual code and a visual symbol; and a processor arranged for comparing the visual code represented by said data with a reference code, the reference code indicating an identity of a disposable component of the apparatus, and comparing the visual symbol represented by said data with a reference symbol, to obtain comparison results, and to determine an action associated with the apparatus in response to the comparison results, wherein the action to be taken in response to the comparison of the visual code with the reference code and the visual symbol with the reference symbol results in one of four unique actions as determined by the comparison results.

14. A system for determining an action associated with an apparatus having a disposable component, the system comprising: means for obtaining data representing a visual code and a visual symbol; means for comparing the visual code represented by said data with a reference code, the reference code indicating an identity of a disposable component of the apparatus, and comparing the visual symbol represented by said data with a reference symbol, to obtain comparison results; and means for determining the action in response to the comparison results, wherein the action to be taken in response to the comparison of the visual code with the reference code and the visual symbol with the reference symbol results in one of four unique actions as determined by the comparison results.

15. A method of determining the action according to claim 1 , wherein in a first case where the visual code matches the reference code and the visual symbol matches the reference symbol, said action comprises at least one of: switching on the apparatus, allowing a user to switch on the apparatus remotely, adjusting operational parameters of the apparatus according to a property of the disposable component, wherein in a second case where the visual code matches the reference code and the visual symbol does not match the reference symbol, said action comprises at least one of: preventing the disposable element from being switched on, prevent the disposable element from being installed to the apparatus, allowing the disposable element from being installed and only providing certain limited services unrelated to the disposable element, wherein in a third case where the visual code does not match the reference code and the visual symbol matches the reference symbol, said action comprises at least one of: providing a service to indicate a correct model number to the user, prevent the user from installing the wrong disposable component, prevent the user from switching on the disposable component, and wherein in a fourth case where the visual code does not match the reference code and the visual symbol does not match the reference symbol, said action comprises at least one of: providing a service to indicate a correct model number to the user, prevent the user from installing the wrong disposable component, prevent the user from switching on the disposable component.

16. A method of determining the action according to claim 1 , wherein a size of the visual symbol is compared with a size of the reference symbol.

17. A method of determining the action according to claim 1 , wherein a relative location between the visual code and the visual symbol is compared with a relative location between the reference code and the reference symbol.

18. An apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein a size of the visual symbol is compared with a size of the reference symbol.

19. An apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein a relative location between the visual code and the visual symbol is compared with a relative location between the reference code and the reference symbol.

20. A system according to claim 14 , wherein a size of the visual symbol is compared with a size of the reference symbol.

21. A system according to claim 14 , wherein a relative location between the visual code and the visual symbol is compared with a relative location between the reference code and the reference symbol.